Veterinarian argues declawing cats is too 'painful'

KUSA - On Wednesday, at 7 p.m., the Denver Film Society's SIE Film Center will screen a documentary produced by Paw Project founder Dr. Jennifer Conrad.

The documentary is educational, not graphic and was produced to increase awareness of the cruelty that is tacitly condoned by the largest veterinary professional organization, the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Aubrey Lavizzo DVM is leading the way to ban declawing of house cats in Colorado. Lavizzo is working with the Paw Project, a 501c3 based in California, to end the practice of declawing. Lavizzo heads up the Colorado branch called Paw Project Colorado and their effort to seek state legislation banning the procedure.

Lavizzo brought in a scratching post and showed how to lure your cat to the post and away from furniture - such as sprinkling catnip on it. Lavizzo said 50 percent of cats relinquished to shelters are there because of behavior problems. Many veterinarians are reluctant to talk to clients about cat behavior problems.

Lavizzo quit declawing several years ago because it causes so much pain for the cats. It was traumatic for his staff trying to help cats recovering from the procedure too.